Based in the belief that diverse leadership results in better outcomes – for practices, organizations and the industry as a whole – Ophthalmic World Leaders (OWL) works across ophthalmology to provide professional and personal development and opportunities for collaboration. In this blog, OWL members share insights on building the skill sets and confidence required of today’s ophthalmic leaders.

BLOG: Leading with compassion, part 3: The apple doesn't fall far from the tree

I’ve been a member of OWL for less than 6 months, but it’s already had a huge impact on my career by providing access to some of the most influential women in ophthalmology industry and business. I have had great advice, exposure for my interests and connections with key players that have resulted in industry collaborations and KOL opportunities.

You work passionately to prevent blindness through medical missions, glaucoma awareness campaigns and public speaking. Can you tell us how you started down that path?

My passion for medical mission work first blossomed from observing the philanthropic efforts that poured out in tidal waves from my father. My father was a late bloomer in medicine. He decided to shift careers as a biochemistry professor in his mid-30s to go to medical school. He fell in love with emergency medicine. Never forgetting his Nigerian roots, for every trip back home, he would always bring an ample stock of medicine and supplies that he used treat people himself or donated to the local hospital.

My father was a well-known philanthropist on both personal and public levels. He performed amazing deeds relating to health, education and nutrition in the U.S. and abroad, while touching the lives of thousands of people. The saying, “The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree,” applies to me, as well as to my siblings, who all became physicians and participated in some level of medical mission work. Though my father passed away in 2016, his spirit for giving lives on in his children and the many he inspired. I now have my own desire to further my passion for touching lives and educating on an international level through medical mission work treating eye disease.

Tell us a little about your medical mission journey thus far.

By the time I headed to Miami for my glaucoma fellowship at Bascom Palmer, I already knew that I wanted to participate in a medical mission. It was just a matter of finding out where and with whom. I quickly connected with Dr. Donald Budenz, who I knew had a tremendous background in mission work in Ghana. He gave me the initial connections that led me to contact Dr. Eugene Nwosu, president of the Goodness and Mercy Foundation. I proceeded to learn the process of planning for a medical mission, determining the materials needed, soliciting donations and preparing for the international trip. I went on two trips with the group. The first mission took place the year after I finished my fellowship. We traveled to Nigeria, which was a dream come true. The icing on the cake was the opportunity to perform cataract surgery on my own aunt!